Cortina Productions produced two large-scale film installations for the new National Museum of the United States Army.
The long-anticipated National Museum of the United States Army opened on Veterans Day, November 11, 2020. It is the first museum to tell the entire history of the U.S. Army since it was established in 1775, and focuses on preserving and honoring the accomplishments, sacrifices, and commitment of American Soldiers. The museum was created by a joint effort between the U.S. Army and the Army Historical Foundation.
Cortina Productions produced two large-scale films for the new museum, the immersive signature theater film “Of Noble Deeds” and “Making of an American Army”.
The Army Theater’s film “Of Noble Deeds” is the Museum’s immersive introduction to the U.S. Army and exhibition content to follow. The 12-minute film is displayed on a 300-degree screen with integrated external sensory elements that envelop the viewer in sight, sound, and movement. The film explores what it means to truly be an American Soldier and highlights the U.S. Army’s seven core values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. Through these seven values, the narrative follows the storyline of a soldier going off to war. The story is constructed through quotes from Soldiers’ letters and journals. The film’s visuals incorporate original live-action footage filmed in 360-degree sequences with composited archival photos and footage for a compelling immersive experience.
The second film, “Making of an American Army,” tells the miraculous story of how citizen soldiers from the 13 disparate American colonies were transformed into a professional and united Continental Army that defeated the British and secured our country’s independence from the King of England. This eight-minute film focuses on the Battle of Yorktown and includes a live-action recreation of the battle for Redoubt #10. Extensive research was conducted to bring as much historical accuracy as possible to the re-enactors’ uniforms, equipment, and weaponry, as well as the full-scale reconstruction of Redoubt #10. Computer animation was used to create a panoramic view of the siege, including the British works and Yorktown as it appeared in 1781, and the surrender ceremony exchange between O’Hara and Washington.
Both films are on display now at the National Museum of the United States Army, located on a publicly accessible area of Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Learn more at www.thenmusa.org.